Beating the world's best golfers on one of the world's biggest stages is hard enough, but how about trying to do it two days after flying halfway across the world?
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"I'm tired. I'm not getting any younger and if I won the PGA it would be the biggest shock ever," Brendan Jones said.
"But stranger things have happened. Guys like Todd Hamilton, Rich Beem ... on their week they know how to win. I am not confident of winning, but whatever happens, happens."
Canberra golfer Jones will make his major tournament comeback when he tees off in the US PGA Championships at the intimidating Bethpage Black in New York on Thursday night.
It will be the first time Jones has played at a major since 2013, but it will be his sixth time at the US PGA event and his rise back into the world's top 100 booked his ticket to the $10.5 million tournament.
Jones is in winning form after collecting the 17th title of his career in Japan three weeks ago and while he isn't expected to challenge players like Tiger Woods, he will be playing with a "why not me" attitude.
"If you can't get up for a major, then you're not going to get up at all," Jones said.
"I've been looking at a few of the flyovers of the holes and I hope the course is a lot easier than the flyovers, because there are certainly some intimidating holes.
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"I was probably one of the last guys to be added to the field, but I'm there and you have to be in it to win it.
"The stresses of playing in a major are still there and I will get nervous, there's no doubt about that. It's a good things to have those nerves because it means it obviously means something to you.
"Do I think I can win it? That's a big call with the players in that field - Tiger, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson ... I'm not expected to beat these guys. But I've just won a few weeks ago, and you can't manufacture that winning feeling."
Jones, 44, made his major debut in 2004 when he played at the US Open, the British Open and the PGA Championship.
If things go according to plan, he will be attempting to match that schedule this year when he aims to qualify for the US Open and the British Open after his PGA mission.
Jones has made the cut just once in his five previous attempts at the PGA Championships, but when he did he finished in a tie for 24th in 2009.
A wrist injury threatened to end Jones' career five years ago, coinciding with the last time he played in one of golf's big four events.
But he has been a consistent performer in Japan in recent years, is the first foreign player to win one million yen and still has the belief needed to perform at the top.
"As long as I feel competitive, I'll keep playing. When I feel like I can't win tournaments any more, that's when I'll walk away quite happy and content," Jones said.
"I've had some lean years. But I want to give myself the best chance I can ... I'm not as young and fit as I once was.
"I've read that Tiger and Phil Mickleson have been out practicing at Bethpage last week and I've just finished a tournament in Japan on a Sunday, waiting for a flight on Monday for a 13-hour flight to the other side of the world ... it's not an ideal preparation, but that was my choice."
Jones will return to Canberra for three days after the US PGA Championships before flying back to Japan for a 36-hole US Open qualifying event. The British Open qualifier will be in the same week and his results will determine his tournament plans.
"That's what you play the game for - the big events and the experiences. I know I don't have an awful lot of time left, so if I can experience these majors then I'll be able to retire very happily."
